Men's Basketball | 12/31/2011 5:00:00 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Western Oregon men's basketball team set the school-record for its best start in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history with a 71-60 win over Montana State Billings on Saturday, Dec. 31.

The win was the Wolves' fourth straight to start conference play and moves them to 11-2 on the season. WOU has now won its last eight games against NCAA Division II opponents and holds sole possession of first place in the GNAC. The loss drops MSU Billings to 8-4 on the season and to 2-2 in the GNAC.

Blair Wheadon and Kyle Long each hit seven shots and scored 18 points to lead the Wolves. Kolton Nelson added 11 points. Jamaal Veal chipped in with a team-high eight rebounds.

The Yellowjackets came out of the gates strong and built a seven-point lead (17-10). A 3-pointer by Taylor Stevens with 10:56 remaining in the half would prove to be the final field goal of the half for the Yellowjackets as the Wolves locked them down defensively. WOU outscored them 22-6 over the last 10 minutes of the period to hold a 32-23 advantage at halftime.

In the second period WOU build its lead to as many as 17 points but saw its advantage cut back to single digits (53-45) on a 3-pointer by Jaxon Myaer with 6:33 remaining. From that point the Wolves would string together an 8-0 run and go on to their 11-point margin of victory.

The Wolves dominated all night in the paint. They outscored the Yellowjackets 38-14 from inside the key including an 18-4 advantage in the first half. The Wolves also limited MSU Billings to 31 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range.

Myaer led MSU Billings with 16 points and Antoine Proctor paced the squad with 11 rebounds.

This is Western Oregon's best start to a season since 1981-82, when it won 22 games to start the year.

Western Oregon will continue GNAC play next Thursday (Jan. 5) at Simon Fraser.